[Grem] Vigano testimony - 14.000 Catholic women ask Pope Francis for answers

[Emoke Greschik]

 Viganò answers critics in new interviews
by *Staff Reporter <http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/author/staff-reporter/>*
posted Friday, 31 Aug 2018
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/08/31/vigano-answers-critics-in-new-interviews/
Archbishop Viganò, former nuncio to the United States (CNS)

The archbishop, whose testimony accused Pope Francis of covering for
Archbishop McCarrick, has been criticised for his record

Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has defended his reputation in three new
interviews, answering criticism about his past record. It follows the
publication of Archbishop Viganò’s testimony
<http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/08/26/former-nuncio-pope-francis-knew-about-mccarrick-but-withdrew-sanctions/>,
in which he accuses Pope Francis and other senior churchmen of covering up
Theodore McCarrick’s sexual abuse.

In an interview with the journalist Aldo Maria Valli, translated
<https://onepeterfive.com/vigano-crow-truth/> by the website One Peter
Five, the archbishop says his critics “cannot stop looking for places to
draw poison with which to destroy my credibility”.

Pope Francis has declined to comment on the testimony, which alleges that
Francis abandoned Benedict XVI’s sanctions on McCarrick, and made McCarrick
a trusted advisor. Rather than responding, the Pope said that journalists
should look closely at the situation.

However, Viganò’s critics have said he is not a credible witness. Bishop
Robert McElroy of San Diego accused
<http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/08/28/bishop-mcelroy-accuses-vigano-of-distorting-the-truth/>
the former US nuncio of “massive personal participation in the covering up
of sexual abuse by bishops”. This seems to have been a reference to
Viganò’s conduct in an investigation of Archbishop John Nienstedt. A
diocesan official alleged that Viganò prevented an inquiry into Nienstedt,
and also tried to have documents destroyed.

In an interview
<https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2018/08/27/archbishop-vigano-responds-to-criticisms-of-handling-of-2014-nienstedt-investigation/>
with Catholic World Report, Viganò rejected the allegation. He said that,
rather than trying to quash the investigation, he suggested that the
archbishop be interviewed earlier in proceedings. Viganò said, “I never
told anyone that Greene Espel [a law firm] should stop the inquiry, and I
never ordered any document be destroyed: any statement to the contrary is
false.” Viganò claimed that a Vatican inquiry had vindicated him on this
point.

Viganò has also faced accusations of misconduct towards Pope Benedict XVI.
A New York Times article reported
<https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/28/world/europe/archbishop-carlo-maria-vigano-pope-francis.html%5D>
that Viganò told Benedict he needed to stay in Rome because his brother
“was sick and needed care”. The brother, Lorenzo, claimed this was a lie.

In his latest interview, Archbishop Viganò says his three other brothers
had already prepared a statement rebutting Lorenzo’s accusation. The
archbishop says he originally opposed the publication of this statement, to
avoid a family row, but was now allowing it to be published.

The brothers’ statement
<https://www.aldomariavalli.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Il-comunicato-dei-fratelli-Vigano.pdf>
describes
Lorenzo’s account as “totally unfounded”, and says that they feel obliged
to defend Archbishop Viganò’s good name. The brothers claim that two
separate public prosecutors and a judge have vindicated Archbishop Viganò’s
side of the story. The brothers also allege that Lorenzo has been exploited
by others who want to destroy the archbishop’s reputation.

Most US churchmen who have commented on Viganò’s testimony have been
broadly supportive. Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City said
<https://archokc.org/news/archbishop-coakley-response-to-vigano-testimony#.W4XLV5k0hTA.facebook>
that, while he could not comment on the specific claims, he had the “the
deepest respect for Archbishop Viganó and his personal integrity”. Similar
comments have been made by Archbishop Charles Chaput
<http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/philadelphia/archbishop-chaput-and-pope-francis-catholic-church-vigano-letter-20180828.html>,
Bishop Thomas Olmsted
<https://dphx.org/statement-from-bishop-thomas-olmsted-regarding-archbishop-viganos-recent-testimony/>
and others.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the US bishops’ conference, said
<https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/dinardo-calls-for-conclusive-answers-to-questions-raised-by-vigans-testimony-72496>
Viganò’s claims deserved answers. Archbishop Salvator Cordileone of San
Francisco went further, saying
<https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=38345>:
“While having no privileged information about the Archbishop McCarrick
situation, from information I do have about a very few of the other
statements Archbishop Viganò makes, I can confirm that they are true.”

In the Valli interview <https://onepeterfive.com/vigano-crow-truth/>,
Viganò says that he was offered a promotion and a cardinal’s hat by Pope
Benedict XVI, but turned it down because he thought he could better serve
the Church in his then position.

The archbishop also says he is at peace: “The light always conquers the
darkness. It cannot be suppressed, especially for the one who has faith.
Therefore, I have much faith and hope for the Church.”

Most recently, Viganò has also spoken
<https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/vigano-doubles-down-mccarrick-was-restricted-under-benedict-but-he-didnt-ob>
to LifeSiteNews about the nature of Benedict XVI’s alleged sanctions on
McCarrick. Viganò’s critics had asked why McCarrick had continued to appear
at official functions, during the time when he was supposedly sanctioned.
Viganò claims that, while McCarrick was sanctioned, he “didn’t obey”.
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